Every year, just before Eid-ul-Adha, excited men (and increasingly women) and children eagerly await the chance to visit one of Asia’s largest livestock market in Karachi. They are there for the spectacle; the entertainment provided by unloading of the animals from their long journey to Karachi, to admire the beauty of the beasts, and to wonder in amazement at the sheer number of animals. In their awe, they probably do not reflect upon the importance of this market for Pakistan’s economy.
The Sohrab Goth market is mostly composed of professional cattle breeders, although there are also many independent entrepreneurs who jump on the opportunity to supplement their regular incomes. These breeders travel sometimes over 20 hours to bring their wares to this market in Karachi. The number of cattle is so large that the market is spread over 700 acres to accommodate all the sellers and buyers. It is reported that over 100,000 animals are brought to Karachi’s market. The merchants come from all over Pakistan, including rural Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan.
[junkie-alert style=”white”] The cattle market is a huge opportunity for Pakistan’s rural area since capital flows from Karachi to the countryside and since cattle traders come to Karachi’s market from all over the country, the wealth is distributed across our land [/junkie-alert] However, the breeders and independent entrepreneurs are only the tip of the iceberg. Setting up this market creates a positive impact for a wide range of industries and is especially important for our unskilled labour force. The people involved in transporting the animals, those working in producing decorations, the ones producing and selling animal feed, the butchers, the tanners, the loaders all reap important financial profits from this market. The ancillary industries to this trade alone are reported to generate business worth billions of rupees, let alone the benefits of direct sales of cattle.
Over the past few years, authorities have slowly transformed the market, improving security and facilities for the animals, sellers and buyers. For the animals, water facilities and veterinarian services have been boosted. The market now also has a complain centre and a help desk, a medical centre, a media centre. The visiting public will be happy to see the market that is well lighted with accessible public toilets, a mosque, bank and ATM machines, security cameras and free parking. These investments to turnaround a market with a reputation for being unhygienic and a security risk show that even our sometimes lackadaisical government realizes the importance of Karachi’s market for our national economy.
Take your time to enjoy and marvel at the beautiful animals, but this year also seize the moment to reflect upon the countless Pakistanis whose livelihood is dependent on the commercial success of this market.
By Atif Godil. The writer is Chartered Accountant and has a keen interest in Pakistani affairs.